Abrams wins 200, but the mission runs deeper

Abrams wins 200, but the mission runs deeper

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

Savannah, GA — Long before the milestone, before the banners and the streaks, Mel Abrams Jr. understood the assignment on his life.

For Abrams, basketball has never been just about the scoreboard. The game is a vehicle — a classroom where young men are shaped, challenged and prepared for the future. The wins, as he’ll tell you, are simply part of the process.

Still, there have been plenty of them.

On Friday night, Abrams earned career victory No. 200 as St. Andrew’s defeated Frederica Academy 61–49 to capture the region championship. The win marked the Lions’ 50th consecutive region victory and secured their fifth straight region title, pushing their record to 18–7.

But for Abrams, the number carries meaning beyond the milestone.

“First and foremost for me personally, this is a ministry,” Abrams said. “I’m on an assignment, so with that, there is something bigger than me and my personal goals.”

That perspective has shaped the foundation of St. Andrew’s basketball. Abrams’ priorities are clear: develop better people, better students and then better athletes — in that order. His program is built on helping individuals and teams reach their full potential while living out the school’s core values.

These principles have transformed St. Andrew’s into one of the most respected programs in the Savannah area — and one that consistently produces both wins and college opportunities.

“Honestly, when I reflect on 200 wins, it represents support from our administration, trust from our parents, and commitment and buy-in from our players,” Abrams said.

The results speak for themselves. A graduate of Pebblebrook High School and Johnson C. Smith University, Abrams has led the Lions to three state championships (2022, 2023, 2025). St. Andrew’s enters this postseason as the defending GIAA AAA state champion.

The sustained success, Abrams says, has come from growth — both in the program and within himself.

“I’ve continued to invest in my own personal development as a coach,” he said. “I’ve learned patience with players. My biggest growth has been balancing our culture and non-negotiables with the flexibility to do what makes sense for each individual team.”

Every program has its cornerstones. For St. Andrew’s, Abrams points to two players who helped elevate the standard — Reggie Sheppard, who enrolled in 2016, and Zyere Edwards, who arrived four years later.

“Both players elevated our program in ways that have been significant to those 200 wins,” Abrams said.

Behind the scenes, stability has been just as critical. Assistant coaches Jeff Gonzalez and Nick Broom have been alongside Abrams from the beginning, providing continuity and helping sustain the culture that fuels the Lions’ success.

Around the program, there’s a simple belief Abrams lives by: Nothing just happens.

Two hundred wins didn’t happen by accident. Neither did the championships, the streaks or the reputation.

It came from understanding the assignment — and staying committed to the DETAILS.